William henry griffith



(No Model.)

W. H. GRIFFITH.

CHAIN LINK.

No. 590,479. I Patented Sept. 21,1897.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

XVILLIAM HENRY GRIFFITH, OF NEXV YORK, .N. Y.

CHAIN-LINK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 590,479, dated. September 21, 1897.

Application filed A fl 12 1897.

To all whom it ntay concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM HENRY GRIF- FITH, of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Chain-Links,-of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class or type of chain-link wherein a single piece of wire is bent to form end loops and the end portions of the wire are shaped into interlocking eyes located substantially central between the ends of the link.

A chain composed of wire links constructed as heretofore and as above indicated possesses weak points and is objectionable in that the extremities of the eyed portions of the wirecomposing each link are not both locked or tied against opposing parts of the wire body substantially at the center of the link in such manner that longitudinal tensile strains serve to clamp and tie the extremities of the eyed portions tighter and tighter against such opposing parts of the wire body. The extremities of the wire are therefore easily pulled out of normal position and the interlocking eyes become separated or loose, which it is very desirable to avoid.

The chief objects of my present invention are to provide a stronger and more durable chain-link of the character referred to and to provide a wire chain-link having interlocking eyes which are so constructedand arranged with relation to opposing abutment-shoulders integral with the body of the wire composing the link that the greater the longitudinal strain the tighter both extremities of the wire are clamped and tied against such opposing abutment-shoulders, whereby it is impossible for the two ends of the wires to pull apart or become loosened, and a chain-link is provided which possesses peculiar characteristics clearly distinguishing it from all prior chainlinks composed of pieces of wire of which I am aware.

To accomplish these objects, my invention consists, essentially, of a chain-link composed of a single piece of wire bent into end loops and centrally between its ends having the body portion offset or shaped with reverse bends forming abutment-shoulders, the end portions of the wire being formed into symmetrical interlocking eyes, each of which in- Serial No. 631,794. (No model.)

closes and embraces both the offset portion of when turned ninety degrees or at right angles to that shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a plan View of a modification.

In order to enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will now describe the same in detail, referring to the drawings, where it will be observed that the chain-link is composed of a single piece of wire which is preferably circular in cross-section, of suitable diameter, but which may be of any desired cross-sectional form. The

strip of wire is first fashioned or shaped centrally between its extremities with reverse bends for the purpose of forming or producing opposing abutment-shoulders 1 and 2.

The bends in this wire do not form a bight or complete convolution, but constitute a mere offset, forming shoulders. This wire strip is then shaped in any suitable manner and by any machinery which will accomplish the purpose into two end loops 3 and 4, preferably somewhat elongated, but not necessarily so. The interlocking portions of the wire are bent each into a complete eye 5 and 6, and each eye is made to embrace in a symmetrical and reciprocal manner both the offset middle portion of the wire and also the extreme end of the other eyethat is to say the eye 6 embraces both the offset portion 1 2 of the middle of the wire and also the extreme end 7 of the other eye, whilethe eye 5 embraces both the offset portion 1 2 of the middle of the wire and also the extreme endS of the other eye. By this construction it will be seen that the terminal eye of each loop draws in the fork of the opposite loop and constricts and pinches the ends 7 and 8 against the offset 1 2, so that the greater the longitudinal tensile strain on the link the tighter the extremities 7 and 8 will be clamped and tied against the opposing abutment-shoulders 1 and 2, forming the offset in the middle of the Wire.

A chain-link made according to my invention, as above described, has been subjected to severe tests, which demonstrated its strength and utility and that the extremities 7 and S of the wire are more tightly confined after excessive longitudinal strain than before.

The link shown in Fig. 3 is a modification, in which the sides of the loop are parallel and both loops lie in the same plane instead of being at right angles to each other and elliptical, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

I am aware that in German Patent No. 74, 731 a link has been formed in which the middle of the body portion of the wire is bent into a bight or a complete convolution and the ends are not formed into eyes at all, but are merely caught in the central bight or convolution. My invention is distinguished by the fact that there is no complete central convolution in the body of the wire, but only an offset, and the ends of the loops are bent into completely-formed eyes, each of which completely embraces both the oitset middle portion of the wire and also the extreme end of the other eye in a perfectly symmetrical and reciprocal manner.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is' 1. A chain-link composed of a single piece of wire bent about its middle to form an oifset with end loops on each side, both said loops having their locking'ends bent into complete eyes, and the eye of each loop embracing both the offset middle portion of they wire and also the extreme end of the eye of the other loop, both being interlocked in a symmetrical and reciprocal manner whereby the pull on each eye is made to constrict and more tightly hold the extreme end of the other eye substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. A chain-link composed'of a single piece of wire bent about its middle to form an ofiset with end loops-0n each side in planes at right angles to each other, both said loops having their locking ends bent into complete eyes, and the eye of each loop embracing both the offset middle portion of the wire and also the extreme end of the eye of the other loop, both being interlocked in a symmetrical and reciprocal manner, whereby the pull on each eye is made to constrict and more tightly hold the extreme end of the other eye substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

VILLIAM HENRY GRIFFITH.

Witnesses:

ALBERT H. NORRIS, F. B. KEEFER. 

